Komnas HAM Holds Discussion with Kolektif Merpati, What Was Discussed?

Two dome-shaped tents were set up in front of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) office. Around them, dozens of students from various universities sat in a circle listening to an explanation from Komnas HAM Commissioner Saurlin Pandapotan Siagian about the Andrie Yunus case.

The opinion-hearing forum held by Komnas HAM together with Kolektif Merpati lasted around 120 minutes. Saurlin conveyed several developments, from examinations by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), experts, to efforts to push for the legal process not to be tried solely through military courts.

Saurlin also stated that there are indications that the perpetrators of the planned attempted murder against Andrie involved more than four people, said Kolektif Merpati spokesperson Alif Iman when met at the Komnas HAM office on Saturday, 11 April 2026.

Alif continued that in this opinion-hearing forum, Kolektif Merpati also urged Komnas HAM to promptly finalise the results of its recommendations, including bringing Andrie’s case to a pro justitia investigation.

The collective, he said, also requested that Komnas HAM declare this case as a gross human rights violation. The consideration is that, as regulated in Law Number 26 of 2000 on Human Rights Courts, Andrie’s case meets the elements to be categorised as a human rights violation.

“We want Komnas HAM to be bold, even though Saurlin just mentioned there are limitations in his institution in the decision-making process,” he said.

In a separate opportunity, Saurlin said his institution continues to strive to push for the planned attempted murder case against Andrie Yunus not to be handled only through the military court mechanism.

He also hopes that the TNI can commit to its statement to provide access for Komnas HAM in requesting information from the four Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) soldiers who are the perpetrators of the acid splashing.

So far, he explained, Komnas HAM has requested information from the Military Police Centre to experts. “Because in our previous meeting with the TNI Military Police Main Unit they stated no objection, we hope to soon obtain access to examine the four perpetrators in order to finalise the recommendations,” said Saurlin.

To Tempo last Wednesday, Saurlin said that methodologically, the Andrie case meets the criteria to be designated as a human rights violation case.

The considerations are that there is an act; carried out by state apparatus and acknowledged by the TNI institution; and the attack was carried out with intentional elements.

“If referring to the provisions of Article 1 paragraph (6) of Law 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, there is no doubt for us to say that it (human rights violation),” he said.

Andrie Yunus was doused with corrosive chemical liquid on 12 March while passing through Jalan Salemba I-Talang, Central Jakarta. Medical records state that Andrie suffered burns over more than 20 percent due to this attack.

Last week, the TNI Military Police Main Unit handed over the case file and evidence to the 07-II Jakarta Military Prosecutor. If the file is deemed complete, Andrie’s case will begin to be tried at the 08-II Jakarta Military Court.

Meanwhile, from the TNI Military Police Main Unit’s statement, there are four splashing perpetrators. They are NDP, SL, BHW, and ES, from the air and sea branches. NDP holds the rank of captain, SL and BHW hold the rank of first lieutenant, while ES holds the rank of second sergeant.